Underground NES power line shaft completed

Drilling work on the second of two massive underground shafts to accommodate electricity distribution lines — a key process in transitioning the existing Nashville Electric Service substation in SoBro to its eventual Korean Veterans Boulevard site — concluded this week, NES said Wednesday.

With the shafts finished, work will begin next week on a tunnel to connect the two shafts, through which underground power lines will run, according Wes Allen, NES civil and environmental engineering manager.

Allen said the two shafts (the first of which was completed a few weeks ago) are 150 and 60 feet deep, respectively.

In addition, transformer equipment is set to arrive Monday, Nov. 15, he said.

“Work is progressing on time,” Allen said.

The existing substation, sited on what had been the southwest corner of Sixth Avenue South and Demonbreun Street, is being moved to accommodate the Music City Center convention facility currently under construction.

Slated for completion in spring 2011, the new substation will be located on the southeast corner of Seventh Avenue South and KVB.